If it has been awhile since you had your gutters cleaned, they could be harboring hidden dangers. These dangers may come in the form of organisms that can cause health problems. The following are examples of hidden dangers that a routine gutter cleaning could uncover and keep your family safe.

Allergens

If you are a person who suffers from springtime allergies, trapped foliage, pollen or flowers in your gutters could exacerbate your allergies. Common culprits are oak, elm, mulberry, birch, and maple trees. These trees may grow to heights that allow them to tower over homes. This means that when their seeds, pollens or flowers fall from them, the allergens may settle on rooftops, windowsills or get trapped in gutters.

Clogged gutters can also contribute to water seeping into homes. The stagnant water can cause fungi to which is another type of allergen to flourish.

Insects

Wasps, hornets, and bees often look for moist or damp dwelling places for their nests. The gutters of your home are an example of a place that is ideal for these insects' nesting behavior. Aim to take a walk around the perimeter of your home to look for signs of insect activity. This is because these insects may start out with a small colony hanging from the exterior of your home, but they can expand their nests in a short period of time. Hanging nests are not only unsightly, but the insects residing in them are known to sting and cause allergic reactions in some people. It is best to call in professional help for a thorough gutter inspection because some insects may build their nests inside of gutters rather than on the exterior, which would make it more difficult for your untrained eyes to find them. A sign of a possible nearby nest would be an increased presence of wasps, hornets, or bees buzzing around your property.

Dead Animals

Small animals may choose to live in gutter systems to keep themselves safe from predators or to keep warm. The problem is that these animals may get stuck in your gutter system and ultimately die. Clogs are sometimes the cause for animals getting trapped. For example, a rodent may be able to make entry through an opening in your gutters, but the animal may not be able to exit the gutter due to leaves clogging the gutters.

The decomposing animal matter may give off an offensive odor, but it can also result in a more serious situation such as harmful bacteria growing inside of your gutters and spreading. If you have noticed a bad odor around your home and cannot identify a source, a professional gutter cleaning could reveal whether or not there is a dead animal inside your gutters.

About Me

My parents were barely "making ends meet" when I was a child, so we lived in a small home that they rarely upgraded. However, they were devoted parents and I cherish every memory made in that house. They were adamant that I go to college, and after I graduated, I was very lucky to land a good job quickly. After I bought my home, I had a few renovations performed to it to make it perfect for me. When the job was done I decided to pay it back to my parents for all they did for me as a child and have their kitchen remodeled. Once I can afford it, I want to help make a few more changes to their home. I have been researching and learning so much about home remodeling, I decided to start a blog to share my remodeling tips and experiences on!